Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Krause Attack
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Statistics from Lichess
161,217 games: White 47.3% / Draw 7.2% / Black 45.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 87,18487K | ||
| Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Wiesbaden Variation | 59,48559K | |
| 10,73511K | ||
| 1,1031,103 | ||
| 935935 | ||
| 596596 | ||
| 355355 | ||
| 178178 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 2, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.32 White is slightly better
Best play: 6... Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8. Ne5 a5 9. f3 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. e4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Krause Attack (ECO D17, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 (6 moves).
In 161,217 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.3%, Black 45.5% and 7.2% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…Nbd7, in 54% of those games.
It branches into 3 named variations; the most played are Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Wiesbaden Variation and Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation. In all, 5 named lines continue from it.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Krause Attack
6…Na6 scores best for Black: 58.9%, with Black winning 56.0% and White 38.2% of 11K games. The most played, 6…Nbd7, scores 49.7% in 87K games, and 6…e6 scores lowest: 46.7%. Stockfish's first choice is 6…Nbd7.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Variations (3)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Krause Attack (D17)”. Lichess data as of 2 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/slav-defense-czech-variation-krause-attack